Pneumatic roll device for document handling apparatus

ABSTRACT

A pneumatic device that receives spaced, singulated letter-mail documents in a vertical on-long-edge attitude and permits the documents to pass through in their entering attitude or pneumatically rolls the documents into a vertical on-other-longedge attitude in response to a stamp detector whereby all emitted letters are in a vertical on-long-edge attitude with the stamp in like face orientation is disclosed.

United States Patent [151 3, 98,538

Groeber 1 Oct. 17, 1972 [54] PNEUMATIC ROLL DEVICE FOR [56] ReferencesCited DOCUMENT HANDLING APPARATUS UNITED STATES PATENTS [72] Inventor:Eugen Groeber, Salt Lake City,

U h 3,343,885 9/1967 Lundeberg ..l98/33 AC [73] Assignee: Sperry RandCorporation, New primary Examine, Richard Aegerter York Attorney-KennethT. Grace, Thomas J. Nikolai and 221 Filed: March 10,1971 Donald Phllllon[21] Appl, No.: 122,955 57 ABSTRACT 'A pneumatic device that receivesspaced, singulated U.S. a AD, 4 letter mail documents in a vertical onlong edge at and permits the documenis to pass through in Field AC, 33their entering attitude or pneumatically rolls the docu- 302/2 31 mentsinto a vertical on-other-long-edge attitude in response to a stampdetector whereby all emitted letters are in a vertical on-long-edgeattitude with the stamp in like face orientation is disclosed.

6 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures illllln mllil] PATENTEDnm 11 I972 SHEET I0!3 PRESSURE SOURCE EDGE SENSOR STAMP SENSOR INVENTOR EUGEA/ GROEBERATTORNEY PATENTED I97? 3.698.538

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lllllllllllllllln BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present inventionrelates to a sheet handling system and in particular to such a system inwhich a plurality of sheets are sorted and arranged to have classifyingindicia like-oriented. Sheet handling systems especially adapted toorient letter mail have in the past generally relied upon extensive useof electromechanical-pneumatic devices to convey, sort and face theindividual letters for the cancellation of the stamps on the face, orside, thereof. Such systems include perforated belts and drums havingassociated negative/positive air pressure systems for the transport ofletter mail see E. Richert, et al, U.S. Pat. No. 3,140,780 and R.Heaney, et al, U.S. Pat. No. 3,389,909 for some typical configurations.

For the facing of letter mail the term facing as used herein shall meanorienting the letter mail to have all stamps on a like oriented face orside, i.e., all stamp sides facing the same direction extensiveelectromechanicalpneumatic systems have been devised see M. Stewart,U.S. Pat. No. 2,929,490 for a typical configuration. As it is necessaryto reduce the number of operative elements of such a facer-canceler tothe minimum to optimize system reliability, it is desirable that a meansbe found for replacing such electromechanical-pneumatic systems with apurely pneumatic system using only a fluid medium, such as air atpositive or negative pressures, as the operative element. The presentinvention is directed toward such a pneumatic facer of letter mail.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The roll device, or facer, of the presentinvention receives a singulated letter or document in a verticalon-long-edge attitude in a through-path. The document passes a stampsensor which determines whether the stamp is on the proper side or facethereof. If the stamp is on the proper side the document continues onthrough the through-path out a common exit. However, if the stamp is noton the proper side the stamp sensor initiates a series of air jets thatimpinge upon the top and bottom edges of the document causing it to rollout of the through-path onto a convexly arcuate wall and into aroll-trough from which the document continues out the common exit.Transport air jets maintain the singulation velocity of the documentthrough the roll device whereby the documents desired spacing andvelocity are maintained within acceptable limits.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of a portion ofa sheet handling system in which the present invention may beincorporated. 1

FIG. 2 is a front-view of the system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view of the roll device of FIG. 2 taken along line 33.

FIG. 4 is a view of the roll device of FIG. 2 taken along line 44.

FIG. 5 is a view of the roll device of FIG. 2 taken along line 5-5.

FIG. 6 is a view of the roll device of FIG. 2 taken along line 66.

LII

FIG. 7 is a view of the roll device of FIG. 2 taken along line 7-7.

FIG. 8 is a view of the roll device of FIG. 2 taken along line 88.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of the sensor, pneumatic system of the presentinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With particular reference toFIGS. 1 and 2 there are presented illustrations of a plan view and afront view, respectively, of a portion of a sheet handling system inwhich the pneumatic roll device of the present invention may beincorporated. Singulator 10 is preferably a fluidic device such as thatof the B. Lyman, U.S. Pat. No. 3,136,539 which fluidically singulates astack of individual documents 12 in a vertical on-long-edge attitude,passing the stream of individual documents 12 on to pneumatic rolldevice 16. Singulator 10 includes a plurality of positive pressure airjets 14 that serve to singulate and transport the documents 12therethrough in a fluidic medium.

Pneumatic roll device 16 of the present invention receives thesingulated documents 12 in a vertical onlong-edge attitude in athrough-path 18 past a stamp sensor 20 which determines whether thestamp is on the proper side or face thereof. If the stamp is on theproper side, the document 12 continues on through the through-path l8and out a common exit 22. However, if the stamp is not on the properside the stamp sensor 20, through valves 24, 26, 28 and 30 and edgesensor 32, initiates a series of opposite-directioned 'positive pressureair jets 44 and 46 from nozzles 25, 27, 29 and 31 which impinge upon thetop and bottom edges, respectively, of document 12 causing it to rollout of the upper level of through-path 18 into the lower level ofroll-through 34 from which the document 12 continues out the common exit22. Transport air jets 36 from plenum 38 having air couplings 40maintain the singulation velocity of the documents 12 through the rolldevice whereby the desired document spacing and velocity are maintainedwithin acceptable limits.

With particular reference to FIG. 2 there is illustrated the verticalon-long-edge attitude of the documents 12 in singulator 10 in which airjets 14, under positive air pressure from a suitable pressure source,serve to singulate the documents 12 and to propel such documents throughroll device 16 in a right-to-left direction. The nozzles 25, 27, 29 and31 under positive air pressure and controlled by their associated valves24, 26, 28 and 30 are shown as being in the area of an opening 50 in theback wall 60 of through-path 18 while the air jets 36 are shown as beingspacially distributed along the front wall of roll-trough 34 andobtaining their air supply from plenum 38. As stated above, thedifferent sized documents 12 are singulated under control of air jets 14of singulator 10 into through-path 18 past stamp sensor 20. Stamp sensor20 determines, from the side location of controlling indicia such asstamp 42 on letter mail, whether or not the particular document 12 is tobe passed along upper level through-path 18 or is to be affected by rollair jets 44 and 46 of nozzles 25, 27, 29 and 31 to roll over the forwardedge of through-path 18 and to slide down into lower level roll-trough34 and under the influence of air jets 36 together with their initialvelocity to pass out common exit 22. The front side wall of roll-trough34 continues in an upward, convexly arcuate manner forming a relativelyhigh side wall 48 to ensure the capture of the rolled documents 12 whenthrust forward and down stream under the influence of roll air jets 44and 46 and their initial velocity from singulator 10.

With particular reference to FIG. 3 there is presented a cross-sectionalview of the pneumatic roll device 16 of the present invention takenalong line 3- 3 of FIG. 1. As stated above, roll device 16 receives, atits input end in through-path 18, a singulated, vertical document 12that is oriented on a bottom long-edge. Document 12, in its passagethrough through-path 18, first encounters a stamp sensor 20 which uponnot detecting a stamp on document 12 activates an edge sensor 32. Edgesensor 32, in turn, upon detecting the leading short edge of document 12initiates (after a suitable delay time to permit document 12 to movedown stream in through-path 18 to substantially encompass nozzles 25,27, 29 and 31) a plurality of roll air jets 44 (through opening 50 inback side wall member 60 of through-path l8) and 46 which impinge uponthe top and bottom portions, respectively, of document 12. Roll air jets44 and 46 cause document 12 to roll off shoulder 62 of through-path 18,down wall 64 and into and along roll-trough 34 exiting at common exit22. Document 12 has then assumed a vertical at titude in roll-trough 34with its previous bottom long edge now being its top long edge, i.e.,document 12 has rolled l80 about its longitudinal axis. Alternatively,if stamp sensor 20 does detect a stamp on document 12, edge sensor 32 isnot activated, and, accordingly, roll air jets 44 and 46 are notactivated whereupon document l2 continues down through-path 18 alongwall members 60, 61 exiting at common exit 22 in its previous bottomlong-edge retained vertical attitude.

To facilitate the passage of document 12 therethrough, roll device 16includes a plenum 38 which is mounted on the front surface of side wallmember 66. Side wall member 66, in the area encompassed by plenum 38,has a plurality of horizontally and downwardly directed transportationair jets 36 see the R. L. Blosser Patent application, Ser. No. 71,534filed Sept. 11, 1970 which, through plenum 38 and couplings 40, arecoupled to a source of positive air pressure (in a manner similar toairjets 14).

With particular reference to FIGS. 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 there are presentedviews of roll device 16 taken along their respectively numbered lines ofFIG. 2. These views are given for the purpose of providing exemplaryillustrations of the positional relationships of the elements thereof.FIGS. 4 8 illustrate that roll device 16 is formed of back and frontside wall members 60 and 66, respectively, with convexly arcuate wallmember 64 joining the bottom surface 68 of through-path 18 while formingthe back side-wall member of roll-trough 34. Bottom member 70 forms thebottom surface of rolltrough 34. Front side-wall member 66 ofroll-trough 34 is a forwardly inclined member terminating in a convexlyarcuate lip member 48 which is located at least partially down stream,i.e., to the left, of opening 50 in wall member 60 (and roll air jets 44and 46) for providing a smooth capture of the rolled document 12 inrolltrough 34. Also illustrated is a base member 74 for supmitting therolling document 12 to roll free of any interference with wall member60.

With particular reference to FIG. 9 there is presented a block diagramof the sensor, pneumatic system of the present invention. As discussedabove, roll device 16 receives, at its input end in through-path 18, asingulated, vertical document 12 which, in its passage throughthrough-path 18, first encounters a stamp sensor 20. Stamp sensor 20upon not detecting a stamp on a predetermined front face of document 12activates an edge sensor 32. Edge sensor 32, in turn, upon detecting theleading short edge of document 12 initiates, after a suitable delay timeestablished by delays 80, 82, 84, 86 to permit document 12 to move downstream in through-path 18 to substantially encompass nozzles 25, 27, 29and 31, a plurality of roll air jets 44 which through opening 50 in backside wall member of through-path 18 impinge upon the top back portion ofdocument 12 and a plurality of roll air jets 46 which impinge upon thebottom front portion of document 12.

Roll air jets 44 and 46, couples to pressure source 88, cause document12 to roll out of through-path 18 and down into roll-trough 34 and tocome under the influence of transport air jets 36, also coupled topressure source 88, which airjets 36 maintain the desired singulationvelocity of document 12. Alternatively, if stamp sensor 20 does detect astamp on document 12, edge sensor 32 is not activated whereby document12 continues on through through-path l8 and out the common exit 22 atits output end.

What is claimed is:

l. A roll device for a document handling apparatus, comprising:

singulator means for pneumatically singulating a plurality of verticallyoriented documents on one or the other of their two long edges;

first and second means for transporting said vertically orienteddocuments on said one long edge only;

third means for intercoupling said first and second means; shouldermeans between said first and second means;

pneumatic means for rolling a transported document on said other longedge from said first means over said shoulder into said second means andonto said one long edge.

2. The roll device of claim 1 in which a portion of said first means isat a relatively higher level than that of said second means for rollingsaid transported document downward into said second means.

3. The roll device of Claim 2 in which said singulated transporteddocuments in said first and second means converge at a common exit fromsaid roll device at the lower level of said second means.

4. The roll device of claim 1 in which said pneumatic means comprisesnozzle means for directing a plurality of oppositely directed roll airjets upon the top and the bottom portions of said transported document.

5. A roll device for a document handling apparatus comprising:

a through-path and a roll-trough, both converging at a common outputend;

said through-path and said roll-trough having associated back and frontside walls, respectively, and bottom surfaces;

means for coupling said through-path to said rolltrough;

means for forming a shoulder between said throughpath and saidroll-trough;

said roll-trough bottom surface on a first lower level;

said through-path bottom surface at its input end being at a secondupper level that is substantially higher than said first lower level andat said common output end being at said first level;

sensor means for detecting a document entering said through-path at saidinput end and for responding to classification indicia on said document;

pneumatic means operatively coupled to said sensor means for rollingsaid detected document over said shoulder into said roll-trough 180about its long axis.

6. A roll'device for a document handling apparatus, comprising:

first' and second means for transporting vertically oriented documentson one edge;

third means for intercoupling said first and second means;

shoulder means between said first and second means;

pneumatic means for rolling a transported document from said first meansover said shoulder into said second means, said pneumatic meansincluding;

indicia sensor means for detecting classifying indicia upon a face ofsaid document; and,

roll air jet means responsively coupled to said indicia sensor means forpneumatically transporting said document from said first means into saidsecond means and rolling said document 180 about its long axis.

1. A roll device for a document handling apparatus, comprising:singulator means for pneumatically singulating a plurality of verticallyoriented documents on one or the other of their two long edges; firstand second means for transporting said vertically oriented documents onsaid one long edge only; third means for intercoupling said first andsecond means; shoulder means between said first and second means;pneumatic means for rolling a transported document on said other longedge from said first means over said shoulder into said second means andonto said one long edge.
 2. The roll device of claim 1 in which aportion of said first means is at a relatively higher level than that ofsaid second means for rolling said transported document downward intosaid second means.
 3. The roll device of Claim 2 in which saidsingulated transported documents in said first and second means convergeat a common exit from said roll device at the lower level of said secondmeans.
 4. The roll device of claim 1 in which said pneumatic meanscomprises nozzle means for directing a plurality of oppositely directedroll air jets upon the top and the bottom portions of said transporteddocument.
 5. A roll device for a document handling apparatus comprising:a through-path and a roll-trough, both converging at a common outputend; said through-path and said roll-trough having associated back andfront side walls, respectively, and bottom surfaces; means for couplingsaid through-path to said roll-trough; means for forming a shoulderbetween said through-path and said roll-trough; said roll-trough bottomsurface on a first lower level; said through-path bottom surface at itsinput end being at a second upper level that is substantially higherthan said first lower level and at said common output end being at saidfirst level; sensor means for detecting a document entering saidthrough-path at said input end and for responding to classificationindicia on said document; pneumatic means operatively coupled to saidsensor means for rolling said detected document over said shoulder intosaid roll-trough 180* about its long axis.
 6. A roll device for adocument handling apparatus, comprising: first and second means fortransporting vertically oriented documents on one edge; third means forintercoupling said first and second means; shoulder means between saidfirst and second means; pneumatic means for rolling a transporteddocument from said first means over said shoulder into said secondmeans, said pneumatic means including; indicia sensor means fordetecting classifying indicia upon a face of said document; and, rollair jet means responsively coupled to said indicia sensor means forpneumatically transporting said document from said first means into saidsecond means and rolling said document 180* about its long axis.